Saturday, January 26, 2008
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
People often ask me if I have a life verse.
If I do, it is Jeremiah 15:16, "Your words were found and I ate them, and your words became for me a joy and the delight of my heart." It's kind of my testimony. I was going nowhere in a hurry and I found this book God wrote and began to feast on it like a soldier devouring his last meal. When the Word of God is absent from my life my heart is hungry. When I feast on the Bread of Life, my heart overflows with joy.
I love the vivid pictures with which the Bible describes itself, adding such insight into how God uses it in our lives.
FIRE
Therefore, thus says the LORD, the God of Hosts, 'Because you have spoken this word, behold, I am making my words in your mouth fire and this people wood, and it will consume them,'" (Jeremiah 5:14).
SWORD
"For the word of God is living and active, sharper than and double edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart." Hebrews 4:12
sword black copy.
HAMMER
"Is not my word like. . . a hammer that breaks the rock in pieces?" Jeremiah 23:29
SEED
"Having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever" (1 Peter 1:23 NKJV). In one of His parables Jesus said, "The seed is the word of God" (Luke 8:11 NKJV).
MILK
"Like newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the word, so that by it you may grow." 1 Peter 2:2.
MEAT
"For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you have need again for someone to teach you the elementary principles of the oracles of God, and you have come to need milk and not solid food. For everyone who partakes only of milk is not accustomed to the word or righteousness." Hebrews 5:12-14.
LIGHT
"Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path." Psalm 119:105
MIRROR
"For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror, for once he has looked at himself and gone away, he has immediately forgotten what kind of person he was. But one who looks intently at the perfect law, the law of liberty, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an effective doer, this man will be blessed in what he does." James 1:23-25
God is faithful to His Word and we who place ourselves in the flow of that unceasing work are the continual benefactors.
I love the vivid pictures with which the Bible describes itself, adding such insight into how God uses it in our lives.
FIRE
Therefore, thus says the LORD, the God of Hosts, 'Because you have spoken this word, behold, I am making my words in your mouth fire and this people wood, and it will consume them,'" (Jeremiah 5:14).
SWORD
"For the word of God is living and active, sharper than and double edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart." Hebrews 4:12
sword black copy.
HAMMER
"Is not my word like. . . a hammer that breaks the rock in pieces?" Jeremiah 23:29
SEED
"Having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever" (1 Peter 1:23 NKJV). In one of His parables Jesus said, "The seed is the word of God" (Luke 8:11 NKJV).
MILK
"Like newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the word, so that by it you may grow." 1 Peter 2:2.
MEAT
"For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you have need again for someone to teach you the elementary principles of the oracles of God, and you have come to need milk and not solid food. For everyone who partakes only of milk is not accustomed to the word or righteousness." Hebrews 5:12-14.
LIGHT
"Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path." Psalm 119:105
MIRROR
"For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror, for once he has looked at himself and gone away, he has immediately forgotten what kind of person he was. But one who looks intently at the perfect law, the law of liberty, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an effective doer, this man will be blessed in what he does." James 1:23-25
God is faithful to His Word and we who place ourselves in the flow of that unceasing work are the continual benefactors.
Friday, January 4, 2008
treehouse
i like to do my Bible reading in the morning, at night, in bed, on a couch, in a restaurant, in class, etc. it seems more special when i do it at different times or different places.
but once i read the Bible in my tree house in our backyard. that was a special time. in a tree house, there are no distractions, no people walking in and wanting to talk, no music tempting you to play it while you do your reading, just silence and the Lord, and boy, He can work miracles with those two things.
plus i was 30 feet off the ground which is 30 feet closer to Him right?
in my relationships with friends and family, i often try to have a special place where the two of us hang out or meet to make our friendship seem more special. i see no reason that i should keep that feeling from the Lord Almighty, i want Him to have all of the greatest feelings of my heart and soul. so because of this i dedicate the tree in the backyard and its house to be a special place between me and my Saviour. a place to spend time in prayer and study, to learn and grow, just like a tree.
i will name this time my "treevotional" time.
but once i read the Bible in my tree house in our backyard. that was a special time. in a tree house, there are no distractions, no people walking in and wanting to talk, no music tempting you to play it while you do your reading, just silence and the Lord, and boy, He can work miracles with those two things.
plus i was 30 feet off the ground which is 30 feet closer to Him right?
in my relationships with friends and family, i often try to have a special place where the two of us hang out or meet to make our friendship seem more special. i see no reason that i should keep that feeling from the Lord Almighty, i want Him to have all of the greatest feelings of my heart and soul. so because of this i dedicate the tree in the backyard and its house to be a special place between me and my Saviour. a place to spend time in prayer and study, to learn and grow, just like a tree.
i will name this time my "treevotional" time.
Since I was a small boy I can remember singing, "Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so." Do you know the song? Do you know that Jesus loves you? I'm not asking if you know the information. More than just 2 + 2 = 4; more than just some facts, do you know that Jesus loves you? I don't mean know like you could recite a recipe for a French toast . I'm asking if you know what those ingredients taste like together? Have you tasted God's love?
It's only been more recently in my life that I've known in my heart that God loves me, that He loves me. I'm a little embarrassed to admit this. I mean, why does a 20-something-year-old man need to know that God loves him? That's for kids, right? How stunned I was not long ago to have God meet me in such a powerful, personal way, and just immerse me in this idea that He loves me!
Christmas turned around for me when I experienced and tasted His love--to know God's love, not just with my head but with my heart. The good news that I promised you is this: He loves you, too.
I know what you may be thinking, "Well yeah, God loves me. I mean, God loves everybody, and I'm part of everybody, and so here I am in this big city, in this big world." Don't misunderstand--God doesn't love you like He sees a football stadium full of people, alright? He loves you--just you.
The Bible has some definite things to say about that. Isaiah 49:16 says that He has engraved you upon the palm of His hand and that He numbers the hairs of your head (Matthew 10:30). The Lord tells us that He saves your tears in a bottle (Psalm 56:8). Do you see? This is a message for you personally. It doesn't matter where you've been, it doesn't matter what you've done, it doesn't matter what you've experienced--God loves you. It doesn't matter what you have thought about yourself or what other people may have said about you--God loves you. You are honored, you are precious in His eyes, and He loves you! (Isaiah 43:4). Isn't that an amazing truth?
Maybe some of you are like, "Exactly how much love does God have for me? Could you break it down?" Sure--almost every time the Bible describes God's love, it makes a beeline for the cross.
The cross of Jesus Christ is God's statement about God's love. Wait a minute, James. It's not Easter, it's Christmas! Yeah, but don't you see how they're connected? When you think of the immensity of God's love, the first thing the Bible often asks us to do is to consider the price that was paid. "God so loved the world that He gave His Son" (John 3:16). "God demonstrated His love toward us in this, that while we were yet sinners, Christ [God's only Son] died for us" (Romans 5:8).
What makes this love so amazing is that it is highlighted against the backdrop of a debt that each one of us owes. At the core of God's being is His holiness. In order for us to have any kind of relationship with Him, we have to find a way to get our sins forgiven. Problem is that's just way too big of a problem; there's nothing we can do to accomplish that. We can't buy God's favor, we can't work for God's favor, we can't ever be good enough to earn God's favor. Some would argue that God's defining characteristic is love, but if that was so, God could welcome us all into heaven and say, "Just c'mon, we'll work it out when you get here." But God's holiness demanded that sin be paid for before there could be any relationship, and then God's love found a way. That's exactly why Jesus had to come. "In this is love, not that we have loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the [payment] for our sins." Because God is holy, He can't look on that sin--it must be covered. Jesus' blood covered our sin. Hebrews 9:22 says that "without the shedding of blood there is no payment for sin."
I know, I know, some nice people want to hush me here, "SHh-h-h. You're getting blood on the snow. Don't wreck Christmas!" But listen--don't miss the amazing truth about Christmas! Don't only see the glossy Christmas card version of Jesus anymore, "Oh, Jesus, look at the sweet baby." The truth is so much more. Jesus, holy God, light and love incarnate, left heaven that first Christmas night to be born a baby, to live a sinless life, to die in your place, so that you could be forgiven of your sin--a holy transaction made possible by the amazing love of God. That's the message of Christmas. We need a Savior and that's why Jesus came.
I proclaim God's love to you today. He loves you with an everlasting love that words fail to describe. And I've got to say this: If you can't look to a time when you turned from your sin and embraced Christ by faith, man, what are you waiting for?! You don't know when or even if you'll have another opportunity to embrace Christ by faith, as the Lover of your soul. Let this Christmas mark the decision that changes your life--forever. Step out of that generic understanding of love into this amazing, committed love of the Lord for each of His own children through faith in Christ. For more information, get to a church that tells you the truth about your need and God's amazing love that reaches out to meet you.
The church fellowship doesn't have to worry about me "bah-humbugging" on Christmas anymore. I've got the real joy of the season now and we raise the roof in our celebration--real joy comes from receiving the gift Jesus offers to each one of us. It's something we can't get ourselves--only a sinless God could give such a holy gift and only love would prompt the sacrifice.
I finally see Christmas for what it is--the day that love and holiness stepped into time. That's why Jesus came.
It's only been more recently in my life that I've known in my heart that God loves me, that He loves me. I'm a little embarrassed to admit this. I mean, why does a 20-something-year-old man need to know that God loves him? That's for kids, right? How stunned I was not long ago to have God meet me in such a powerful, personal way, and just immerse me in this idea that He loves me!
Christmas turned around for me when I experienced and tasted His love--to know God's love, not just with my head but with my heart. The good news that I promised you is this: He loves you, too.
I know what you may be thinking, "Well yeah, God loves me. I mean, God loves everybody, and I'm part of everybody, and so here I am in this big city, in this big world." Don't misunderstand--God doesn't love you like He sees a football stadium full of people, alright? He loves you--just you.
The Bible has some definite things to say about that. Isaiah 49:16 says that He has engraved you upon the palm of His hand and that He numbers the hairs of your head (Matthew 10:30). The Lord tells us that He saves your tears in a bottle (Psalm 56:8). Do you see? This is a message for you personally. It doesn't matter where you've been, it doesn't matter what you've done, it doesn't matter what you've experienced--God loves you. It doesn't matter what you have thought about yourself or what other people may have said about you--God loves you. You are honored, you are precious in His eyes, and He loves you! (Isaiah 43:4). Isn't that an amazing truth?
Maybe some of you are like, "Exactly how much love does God have for me? Could you break it down?" Sure--almost every time the Bible describes God's love, it makes a beeline for the cross.
The cross of Jesus Christ is God's statement about God's love. Wait a minute, James. It's not Easter, it's Christmas! Yeah, but don't you see how they're connected? When you think of the immensity of God's love, the first thing the Bible often asks us to do is to consider the price that was paid. "God so loved the world that He gave His Son" (John 3:16). "God demonstrated His love toward us in this, that while we were yet sinners, Christ [God's only Son] died for us" (Romans 5:8).
What makes this love so amazing is that it is highlighted against the backdrop of a debt that each one of us owes. At the core of God's being is His holiness. In order for us to have any kind of relationship with Him, we have to find a way to get our sins forgiven. Problem is that's just way too big of a problem; there's nothing we can do to accomplish that. We can't buy God's favor, we can't work for God's favor, we can't ever be good enough to earn God's favor. Some would argue that God's defining characteristic is love, but if that was so, God could welcome us all into heaven and say, "Just c'mon, we'll work it out when you get here." But God's holiness demanded that sin be paid for before there could be any relationship, and then God's love found a way. That's exactly why Jesus had to come. "In this is love, not that we have loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the [payment] for our sins." Because God is holy, He can't look on that sin--it must be covered. Jesus' blood covered our sin. Hebrews 9:22 says that "without the shedding of blood there is no payment for sin."
I know, I know, some nice people want to hush me here, "SHh-h-h. You're getting blood on the snow. Don't wreck Christmas!" But listen--don't miss the amazing truth about Christmas! Don't only see the glossy Christmas card version of Jesus anymore, "Oh, Jesus, look at the sweet baby." The truth is so much more. Jesus, holy God, light and love incarnate, left heaven that first Christmas night to be born a baby, to live a sinless life, to die in your place, so that you could be forgiven of your sin--a holy transaction made possible by the amazing love of God. That's the message of Christmas. We need a Savior and that's why Jesus came.
I proclaim God's love to you today. He loves you with an everlasting love that words fail to describe. And I've got to say this: If you can't look to a time when you turned from your sin and embraced Christ by faith, man, what are you waiting for?! You don't know when or even if you'll have another opportunity to embrace Christ by faith, as the Lover of your soul. Let this Christmas mark the decision that changes your life--forever. Step out of that generic understanding of love into this amazing, committed love of the Lord for each of His own children through faith in Christ. For more information, get to a church that tells you the truth about your need and God's amazing love that reaches out to meet you.
The church fellowship doesn't have to worry about me "bah-humbugging" on Christmas anymore. I've got the real joy of the season now and we raise the roof in our celebration--real joy comes from receiving the gift Jesus offers to each one of us. It's something we can't get ourselves--only a sinless God could give such a holy gift and only love would prompt the sacrifice.
I finally see Christmas for what it is--the day that love and holiness stepped into time. That's why Jesus came.
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